Electric trolley construction



Aug. 26, 1941. GLASGOW 2,254,142

ELECTRI C TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ERNEST M. GLASGOW BY HIS ATTORNEYS MMM Aug. 26, 1941.

E. M. GLASGOW 2,254,142 ELECTRIC TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 30 1 q;

2*. 12/ 2a m ,H a F j E* i 7 67 i W n" a 0 48 1 El IZI m m 60 21 .9 r4115. J7 J7 46 :7 INVENTOR J0 ERNEST M. GLASGOW BY HIS ATTORNEYS Aug. 26, 1941.

E. M. GLASGOW 2,254,142

ELECTRIC TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ERNEST M. GLASGOW BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 26,

ELECTRIC TROLLEY coNs'rnoorIoN Ernest M. Glasgow, Towaco, N. J., assignor to Feedrail Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December '5, 1935, Serial No. 53,075

33 Claims.

This invention relates to electric trolley constructions of the type comprising bus bars and a carriage having contacts therefor, and more particularly to three phase installations of this character for distributing current to portable electric power tools.

This application is in part a continuation of my copending parent application Serial No. 12,530 filed March 22, 1935 claiming the novel conduit and bus bars, and combination thereof with the carriage; claims to the carriage per se having been divided .out thereof and presented in this application together with improvements in the trolley.

v The main objects of thepresent invention are to economize the manufacture, simplify the construction, and facilitate the installation and operation of constructions of this character, to provide a compact arrangement, and to protect the bus bars from short circuit and the carriage from obstruction.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent as the following description proceeds,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trolley construction according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the control box shown in Figure 1;

"Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1; and showing the trolley carriage in end elevation;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section through the trolley carriage taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 7;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section similar to Figure I, but showing the trolley carriage and side elevation;

Figure 6 is a plan of the trolley carriage;

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal section through the carriage taken along the line 1-4 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing an improved form of carriage;

Figure 9 is a section taken along the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a section taken along the line I0--IIl of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a section taken along the line III-I of Figure 8.

The electric trolley construction comprises an insulating member having bus bars secured there to and complementary conduit members mounted at each side thereof, forming a conduit inclos-- ing the bus bars, but spaced therefrom. The conduit contains acarriage according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention which moves longitudinally therein, and is provided with contacts engaging the bus bars.

to end relation to form a continuous conduit of a length to suit the installation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

as shown in Figure 3 an insulating member 2 is provided, which may be conveniently molded of Bakelite, but may be constructed as desired from any other insulating material. The opposite sides and the edge of the member 2 are provided with undercut grooves 3, 4 and 5. These grooves receive bus bars 6, I and 8 respectively.

The preferred form of the bus bar comprises a strip of copper or other conducting material having its side edges bent back upon itself as at I 0 and II. The side edges are brought together as at I2 and then both are flared outwardly forming diverging flanges I3 and I4. The metal of-these bus bars is resilient and hence the flanges I3 and I4 have a spring action which facilitates their longitudinal insertion in the undercut grooves 3, 4 and 5.

The margin of the insulating member 2 is secured between complementary conduit members I5 and I 6. In the form shown the insulating member 2 has an upper margin I 'I of reduced thickness and the side members I5 and I6 have vertical flanges I8 between which the margin I I is secured. The conduit members I5 and I6 have side walls parallel to the insulating member 2 and terminating in inwardly directed flanges I9. The inner edges of the flanges I9 are spaced apart thus leaving the trolley slot 20. The flanges I9 trolley contacts 26 and 21 which respectively engage the bus bars 6 and I, and a trolley contact 28 which engages the bus bar 8.

These contacts are preferably wheels, respectively journaled in U-shaped arms 30, which are pivotally mounted on an insulating plate 3 I, preferably of Bakelite, on the carriage. The arms for the contacts 26 and 21 are respectively pivoted on the upper ends of posts 32 and are urged toward each other by springs 33. The lower ends of these posts pass through the plate 3| and are threaded to receive nuts 34. Pins 35 in a groove 36 in the plate 3| prevent the posts 32 from turning.

The arm for the contact 28 is pivoted on a pin 38 carried by ears 39 depending through a slot 40 in the plate 3|, from a clip 4I secured to the top of the plate 3| by a bolt 42. A spring 43 urges the arm 30 upward to project the contact 28 through the slot 40. Insulated wires 44 are respectively connected by nuts 45 to the threaded ends of the posts 32 and bolt 42.

The frame of the carriage is a box like structure, preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal. Central vertical depending loops 48 join laterally extending floor flanges 41, from which side flanges I extend vertically.

As shown in Figure 5, a central portion of the carriage plate between the loops II is cut away, forming an aperture 49 through which the wires 44 depend. The loops II at each end are slotted to receive eyes III which are pivoted on pins II carried by the loops. A control box I! as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is suspended from the eyes II and contains a switch, circuit breaker, and/or fuses. In order that diflerent tools may be used interchangeably. a receptacle BI is mounted in the box 52, under a hinged cover 5|, to receive a plug 55. The box 52 is preferably constructed to provide an eye 58, on which the tool may be suspended when not in use.

As shown in Figure 4, the insulating plate II is secured to the carriage by screws I1 engaging posts 58 secured to the flanges 41. The corners of the plate II are cut away at II to clear the carriage supporting wheels Ill. These wheels 80 rotate on axles Bl passing through the carriage side plates 48, and through vertical flanges 62 of box like clips 63 which are riveted to the top of floor flanges 41. Rubber blocks 85 in these clips bear against the axles 6|, forming bumpers for the carriage.

Guide rollers 66 are mounted in slots I! cut in the sides of the loops 46 and rotate on vertical pins 68 extending between horizontal channel clips 69 which connect the sides of the loop. Lugs II on these channels pass through the sides 41 and are peened over as shown in Figure 5.

To insert the trolley carriage in the conduit, the latch members 84 are caused to compress the springs 95 to release the hinged portions 92 which are swung upward. The carriage is then inserted, with the trolley contact 28 aligned with the lower edge bus bar I. The posts I2 extend up on each side of the insulating member 2. As this Bakelite bus bar support is tapered at its lower portion, the trolley contacts 26 and 21 are spread thereby, against the action of their springs II. When the hinged portions I2 are relatched, the edges of channels 2| engage the guide rollers 68 with a slight clearance, and the flanges l9 therebeyond pass under the supporting wheels 60 and form a track therefor. This condition may also be obtained by moving the carriage along into the rigid portion of the conduit section before the movable portionis replaced.

The improved form of trolley carriage shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 is provided with a pair of trolley contacts 26a and 21a adapted to respectively engage the bus bars 6 and 'l and a igrollgy contact 28a adapted to engage the bus The contacts 26a, 21a and 28a are blocks or lugs forming solid brushes of copper or other brush material respectively joumaled in U-shaped arms 30a, which are pivotally mounted on an insulating base Ila preferably of Bakelite and asbestos composition, or other molded insulation, on the carriage. This base Ila has two upstanding ridges I8 and I1, and a slot a therebetween.

The arms for the contacts Ila and 21a are respectively pivoted on the upper ends of posts 320 and urged toward each other by springs IIa coiled about the posts and having one end hooked over the arm and the other end engaging a stop pin 36a. Stop plates Ila prevent the posts from turning. These posts extend down through the ridges II and I! which flrmly support the same, and extend below the base Ila and are threaded to receive nuts Ila.

The arm for the contacts 28a is pivoted on a pin I8a carried by ears IIa depending through the slot a, from a clip lla secured to the top of the base Ila between the ridges II and II, by a bolt No. A spring 43a urges the arm Ila upward to project the contact 28a through the slot. Insulated wires a are respectively connected by nuts 45 to the threaded ends of posts IM and bolt 42a. The base Ila has a depending flange II which forms a longitudinal side conduit for the wire a leading to the contact 28a.

The brushes or lugs of this modification are all prevented from rotation, and are urged to parallelism with the bus bar surfaces, by leaf springs 98. These springs have one end hooked under the bridge of the arms IOa and pass over the pivots and springs thereon, and have a reversely bent portion underlying the lugs 20a, 21a and 2841.

It should be noted-that each brush 28a, 21a, and 28a has a pigtail 99 of flexible stranded wire soldered directly thereto. For example, each of these lugs has a hole drilled in its rear face, and the end of the pigtail is soldered therein, as at II. From this soldered connection, the pigtail extends directly to a soldered terminal II for the binding post for the lead in wire a, such as those formed by the lower ends of the posts Ila. As shown, the pigtail 99 passes from the soldered joint ll over the spring 98 and through a hole 12 in the rear bridge of the arm 32a, and thence to the binding post. With this arrangement there is a direct electrical connection to the brush, in that there are no pivotal or rotating parts in the circuit between the lead in wires and the bus bar contact, to cause arcing and pitting, and yet the pigtail is of sufliciently flexible construction to permit the play desired for free movement of the trolley.

The frame of this carriage is a box-like structure, preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal. Central vertical depending loops 46a join laterally extending floor flanges "a, from which side flanges "a extend vertically. The base Ila is offset to overlie the upper edges of these flanges, except at the ends, where ears I5 project upwardly from one flange only, to engagean internal projection inside the conduit, also on one side only, to prevent reverse insertion of the carriage. An insulating liner I1 is fitted inside the floor and side flanges and has an aperture I8 for the wires a.

As shown in Figures 8 and 11, the insulating base is secured to the carriage by screws 51a let down in countersunk portions 58a in the ridges 9i and 91 and suitably engaging the carriage plate. Comers of the plate are cut and folded to form flanges 62a having Journals for axles Ila on which are mounted supporting wheels Ila.

Similar cutting and folding at the loops a forms flanges 68a for mounting for vertical guide rollers 86a, and rubber blocks a are fitted in the ends of these loops.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that the construction according to the present invention is unusually compact, as the bus bars are close together although well insulated. The carriage also is small and compact which permits it to be housed by the con duit, The conduit having only the necessary trolley slot protects the bus bars from short circult, and prevents obstruction the carriage supporting wheels.

The invention is not limited to the details disclosed, but includes such embodiments as fall within the scopeof the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an electric trolley construction, a carriage having a set of four supporting rollers arranged in transversely spaced pairs, a frame having journals for said supporting rollers, insulation supported by said frame, a set of three electrical trolley contacts on said carriage separate from said supporting rollers and insulated therefrom, means for urging a pair of said contacts toward each other and means for urging the third toward said pair.

2. In an electric trolley construction, a carriage having supporting rollers, three trolley contacts on said carriage separate from said supporting rollers and insulated therefrom, and means for urging each of said contacts radially toward a line parallel to the direction of movement of said carriage.

- 3. In an electric trolley construction, a carriage, having supporting rollersjthree trolley of the track ior 3 oted on said base, and means for urging said third contact up through said slot.

8. In an electric trolley construction, a car- 'riage having a base .of molded insulating material with upstanding ridges, and a slot through said base therebetween, trolley contacts mounted on said ridges, means for urging said contacts toward each other, a third contact on said base adjacent said slot, and means for urging said third contact upwardly in a plane between said ridges.

9. In an electric trolley construction, for use in a conduit having bus bars therein and a longitudinal continuous slot, a carriage having a base of insulating material and wheels thereon for supporting said carriage in said conduit, said carriage having a portion depending through said slot, and a box suspended from said depending portion for connection to a portable electric tool contacts mounted on said carriage separate from said supporting rollers, means for insulating said contacts from said carriage, and means for urging said contacts each in a diiferent direction toward a line extending in the direction of movement of said carriage.

4. In a three phase electric trolley construction, a carriage having supporting rollers, three trolley contacts each separate from said supporting rollers mounted for swinging movement on said carriage, means for insulating said contacts from said carriage, means for urging a pair of said contacts each toward the other, and means for urging the third contact toward said pair, the urging means for said pair being adapted to yield laterally to permit to pass therebetween into respective engagement with the three contacts a group of three bus bars along which said contacts may be moved by said carriage.

5. In anelectric trolley construction, a carriage having a base of insulating material with upstanding pedestals, trolley contacts mounted on pivots extending upward from said pedestals, means for urging said contacts horizontally toward each other about said pivots, a third contact pivoted on said base, and means for urging said contact toward the other two in a vertical plane between said pedestals, said carriage, pedestals and contacts being. constructed and arranged to leave an unobstructed longitudinal passage between said horizontally urged contacts.

6. In an electric trolley construction, for use in a conduit having bus bars therein and a longitudinal slot, a carriage having a base of molded insulating material with upstanding longitudinal ridges, supporting wheels for said carriage on which it may move in and along said conduit, trolley contacts mounted on said ridges, means for urging said contacts toward each other, a

and by means of which said carriage may be propelled along said conduit, arms pivotally mounted on said carriage within said conduit, brush blocks mounted on saidarms, means for respectively urging each of said arms toward the others to engage its brush block with one of said bus bars, and a flexible metallic conductor directly connected to each of said brush blocks and extending therefrom through said slot to said connection box, whereby pivotal or rotary movement in the electrical connection from said brushes to said box is avoided.

- 10. In an electric trolley construction, for use with a conduit comprising a central group of side and edge bus bars, and side walls spaced from said bus bars and having inwardly directed flanges spaced apart to form a slot, a carriage,

supporting means on said carriage for engaging said flanges for longitudinal movement therealong, trolley contacts on said carriage and insulated therefrom, means for urging a pair of said contacts toward each other for engagement with the side bus bars, means for urging another porting a pair of said brushes mounted on pivots' extending upward from said ridges, means for urging said pair of brushes toward each other, means pivoted on said base adjacent said slot for Supporting a third brush, means for urging said third brush upwardly through said slot, a frame for said base having wheels for supporting said carriage in the conduit and a portion dethird contact pivoted on said base, and means pending through the conduit slot and a box suspended from said depending portion for connection to a portable electric tool and by means of which said carriage may be pulled along with said tool, and a flexible electric conductor directly connected to'each of said brushes and extending therefrom through the conduit slot to said connection box.

12. For use with aconduit having an elongated slot and bus bars mounted in said conduit and insulated therefrom, a carriage adapted to be supported in said conduit for movement therealong, trolley contacts on said carriage and in sulated therefrom, means for urging said contacts into respective engagement with said bus bars, and a polarizing projection on one side only of said carriage'said carriage comprising a side flange and said polarizing projection comprising an ear formed of an extension of said side flange.

13. In a carriage for an electric trolley construction, a frame having a metal floor and a central depending portion, an insulating base overlying said floor and secured thereto on both sides of said central depending portion, supporting rollers having transverse journals above said floor, and current collectors carried by said base between the vertical planes of said supporting roller journals, said base having an aperture therein, said floor having an insulating liner, and one of said collectors having supporting means between said base and liner and including spring means projecting said collector through said aperture.

14. In a carriage for an electric trolley construction, a frame having a sheet metal floor and a depending central portion, an insulating base extending over said floor, current collector supporting means housed between said frame and insulation and including spring means, said insulation having aperture means therein, and collector contact means carried by said supporting means and projected through said aperture means by said spring means, said aperture being formed in a flat portion of said insulating means which is perpendicular to the path of movement of said collector contact means passing through said aperture, and said aperture conforming to the cross section of the collector means passing therethrough but having a clearance therefor, and supporting rollers having journals in said frame above the bottom of said base, guide rollers journaled within said central portion, an electrical device suspended by said central portion, and conductors connecting said collector contact means and said suspended device.

15. A carriage for an electric trolley construction, comprising a metal frame having floor parts and a central depending portion, said carriage having journals for supporting rollers, an insulating base extending over said floor parts and secured thereto on each side of said central portion, current collectors carried by said insulating base, and a control box carried by said depending portion and connected to said collectors said control box containing circuit protective means and receptacle means in circuit with said collectors, said box having a hinged cover and at least one of said means mounted under said hinged cover and accessible from outside said box only when said cover is opened, said receptacle means being adapted to secure a plug, whereby diflerent tools may be used interchangeably with the same carriage.

16. In an electric trolley construction, an insulating base, vertical posts supported by said base and extending thereabove, arms pivotedon said posts, springs urging said arms about said posts toward each other, another arm pivoted on said base, a spring urging said arm upward toward the others, a frame having a central depending portion and a sheet metal floor underlying said base and secured thereto on each side of said central portion, supporting rollers having transverse journals above said floor near each end, an electrical device suspended by said central depending portion, current collector brushes carried by said pivoted arms between the vertical planes of said supporting roller journals, and conductors directly connecting said brushes to said suspended device.

17. A trolley collector carriage part comprising horizontal flanges which have their outer portions flanged upwardly to provide vertical flanges, horizontally disposed axles above the horizontal flanges and jouralling supporting rollers which depend through slots of the horizontal flanges, and rubber bumper blocks at the ends of the carriage, in alignment with the horizontal axles, and seated on the horizontal flanges and between the vertical flanges.

18. A T shaped elongated trolley collector carriage part comprising a U cross section vertical portion and upper portions extending transversely thereabove to provide horizontal flanges, horizontally disposed axles above the horizontal flanges and journalling supporting rollers which depend through slots of the horizontal flanges, and rubber bumper blocks at the ends of the carriage, and seated between the sides of said central vertical portion.

19. A trolley collector carriage frame comprising a sheet metal floor having lateral extensions turned up to form side flanges, and supporting rollers journaled between said side flanges and projecting through slots in said floor.

20. A trolley collector comprising a frame having longitudinally and transversely spaced supporting rollers and loops of sheet metal strap depending centrally with respect to said supporting rollers, insulating material overlying said frame and secured thereto on both sides of said loops, longitudinally extending pins in said loops, a control box depending from said pins and having transverse end walls and a transversely opening tool supporting eye therebelow, and a receptacle mounted in said control box between said transverse end walls and adapted to receive a plug for the tool supported by said eye.

21. In a carriage for an electric trolley construction, a frame having a sheet metal floor and a central dependingportion, an insulating base overlying said floor and secured thereto on both sides of said central depending portion, supporting rollers having transverse journals above said floor, and current collectors carried by said base between the vertical planes of said supporting roller journals.

22. In a carriage for an electric trolley construction, a frame having a sheet metal floor and a depending central portion, an insulating base extending over said floor and supporting rollers having journals in said frame above the bottom of said base, guide rollers journaled within said central portion, an electrical device suspended by said central portion, current collectors carried by said base and conductors connecting said collectors and said suspended device.

23. A carriage for an electric trolley construction, comprising a sheet metal frame having floor parts and a central depending portion, said floor parts having journals for supporting rollers, an insulating base extending over said floor parts and secured thereto on each side of said central portion, current collectors carried by said insulating base, and a control box carried by said depending portion and connected to said collectors.

24. A T shaped elongated trolley collector carriage part comprising a U cross section vertical portion having its upper portions flanged away from each other horizontally to provide horizontal flanges, horizontally disposed axles above the horizontal flanges and journalling supporting rollers which depend through slots of .the horizontal flanges, and horizontally disposed pins inv the bight of the vertical portion providing pivotal mountings.

25. A T shaped elongated trolley collector carriage part comprising a U cross section vertical portion and upper portions extending away from each other to provide horizontal flanges, horizontally disposed es adjacent the horizontal flanges and journa supporting rollers which project through slots of the horizontal flanges, vertically disposed axles within the carriage and journalling side thrust rollers which extend through slots of vertical parts of the carriage, and horizontally disposed pins in the bight of the vertical portion providing -pivotal mounting means, the supporting rollers, the thrust rollers, and the pins being symmetrically arranged with respect to one another to prevent rocking oi. the

' carriage.

26. A T shaped elongated trolley collector carriage part formed of one piece and comprising a -U cross section vertical portion having its upper portions flanged away from each other horizontally to provide horizontal flanges which have their free end portions in turn flanged upwardly to provide vertical flanges, horizontally disposed axles above the horizontal flanges and journalling supporting rollers which project through slots oi the horizontal flanges, vertically disposed axles within the carriage and journalling side thrust rollers which project through slots 01 vertical parts of the carriage, and horizontally disposed pins in the bight of the vertical portion providing pivotal mountings for a tool support and accessible through cutouts of said bight.

27. A T shaped elongated trolley collector carriage part formed of one piece and comprising a U cross section vertical portion having its upper portions flanged away from each other horizontally to provide horizontal flanges which have their free end portions in turn flanged upwardly to provide vertical flanges, horizontally disposed axles above the horizontal flanges and joumalling supporting rollers which project through slots of the horizontal flanges, vertically disposed axles within the carriage and journalling side thrust rollers which project through slots of vertical parts ,of the carriage, and horizontally disposed pins in the bight of the vertical portion providing pivotal mountings for -a tool support and accessible through cutouts of said bight, the

supporting rollers, the thrust rollers, and the tool supporting pins being symmetrically arranged with respect to one another to prevent rocking oi. the carriage, and rubber bumper 'bloclis at the ends oi the carriage, in horizontal alignment with the horizontal axles, and seated on the horizontal flanges and between the vertical flanges.

28. A trolley collector carriage comprising a pair of longitudinally extending plates having their upper portions flanged away from each other, transversely spaced supporting rollers journaled in said carriage, an insulated base secured to said upper flanged portions, collector 29. In an electric trolley construction, a carriage comprising a frame and an insulating cover, collector contact supporting means housed between said frame and cover and including spring means, said cover having aperture means therein, and collector contact means on said supporting means and projected through said aperture means by said spring means, the outer margin of said cover engaging a coextensive por-- tion 01' said frame and enclosing said collector contact means. a

30. In an electric trolley construction, a chassis comprising a frame and spaced layers of insulation one above the other, collector contact supporting means housed between said layers, spring means located above said frame and below said upper layer, said upper layer, having aperture means formed therein, and collector contact means carried by said supporting means and projected through said aperture means by said spring means, the outer margin oi'said upper layer engaging a coextensive portion 01' said frame and enclosing said collector contact means.

31. In an electric trolley construction, a sheet metal floor having upstanding side flanges and pivot supports depending from the front and rear parts of said floor, insulating layers above said floor andmaintained in spaced relation, collector contact supporting means housed between said spaced layers,.the side margins of said upper layer engaging the upper margins of said side flanges, said upper layer having aperture means formed therein, collector contact means contacts carried by said insulated base, and a pair of longitudinally spaced trough-like loops connecting the lower portions of said plates and depending between said transversely spaced supporting rollers.

carried by said supporting means, and means for urging said collector contact means up through said aperture means.

32. In an electric trolley construction, a chassis comprising a floor and upstanding side flanges,

longitudinally and transversely spaced supporting rollers joumalled on said chassis, said chassis having a central sheet metal portion depending from said floor and carrying pivoted supports, and spaced layers of. insulation one above the other, the side marginsof said upper layer engaging the upper margins of said side flanges, collector contact supporting means housed between said layers, spring means located above said floor and below said upper layer. said upper layer having aperture means formed therein, and collector contact means carried by said supporting means and projected through said aperture means by said spring means, said aperture means being formed in a flat portion of said upper layer which is perpendicular to the path of movement of said collector contact means passing therethrough.

33. A carriage for an electric trolley construction, a frame having a sheet metal floor having floor parts and a central depending portion, comprising longitudinally spaced and aligned loops of U shape cross section, hinge pins in said loops, said floor parts having journals for supporting rollers, an insulating base extending over said floor parts and supported on said frame with at least the main body portion of the base in spaced relation with the floor, current collectors canied by said insulating base, at least one of said collectors having at least a portion below said base, and a control box carried by said depending portion and connected to said collectors.

ERNEST M. GLASGOW. 

